The National tribune., 1887-12-15
cHICKAMAUGA AGAIN.
crllIcIzlug Col. Hunters Story.

Enron NATIONAL, tribune: In a recent
issue appears an article from Col Morton G.
Hunter, Of the SD Ind, in regard TO the action
Of the SOD Ind. at the battle Of Chickamauga.
While we must commend the action OF this gall
lant regiment and accord 20 il praise for its
bravery and good work, and while in the main
we cannot but commend the aforementioned
article, yet some parts Of it need crtieizing and
correcting.
In the first place, speaking of Van Derveers
Brigade in the action Saturday morning he
SAYS: I" Ii was giving back slowly, fell back,
aud passed over the sod Ind, when the latter
rose, fred and ropulsed the enemy's advance"
Ho was generous enough TO give Van Derveers S
Brigade credit for stopping and assisting In the
repulse OF the charge. / wish TO say that was
there and i write from personal knowledge,
that Van Derveer's Brigade never fell back
over the s2d Ind, and never yielded an inch
Of ground TO the enemy during that Saturday s
engagement. That brigade did not need the
presence of another regiment In front or in
rear to give IL any fighting qualities. Van Der
yeer's Brigade was not sent 10 the right TO sup
port Croxton, but was moved, after the hTst
repulse of the enemy, some farther 10 the
left 10 prevent thanking movements, and re-
pulsed several severe and determined charges
of the rebels. who were endeayOring TO gain
the rear, aud held its place in the front until
the battle ceased for the day on this end OF the
line.
Again. Col Hunter places McCOok on the
right, Thomas in the center and Crittenden on
the left during the second day. / presume he
writes from memory and has never read the
history Of this engagement. Parties writing
at this late date concerning such things as did
not come under their own immediate observa-
ton should FIRST verify their statements from
| history, and avoid such bunders.
All histories Of this battle and reports oi
! officers place Thomas, with one division each
or McCooll's and Crittenden's Corps, on the left
/ The latter two corps commanders were on the
4 right, and were carried back with the right in
the disaster Of Sunday forenoon. See Chaplain
/ Van Horns Army Of the Cumberland" and
Life of Gen. Thomas; Gen. Cist's Army OF
\ the Cumberland "; Report Of the Committee
on the Conduct of the War" and a number OF
Others ! might name. Crittenden at no time
during the battle had any command of the left
Still again. Speaking of the second day, Col
Hunter says the battle-line as formed was im
perfect, there being gap of a mile or more be
tween Thomas's and McCook's commands
This is equivalent 10 a charge of incompe
tency or wilful ignorance on the part Of Gen
Rosecrans. When we remember that thes,
three corps were more or less mingled together
in the fighting Of the day previous, it seems
impossible that such gap could occur in th'
rearranging of the lines during the night, un
| less stupidity was shown somewhere. No. sir
there was no gap. Reports of the officers givel
Immediately after the battle show the line
pretty well closed up Sunday morning. Th'
gap was caused by Gen. Wood literally obeyinI
the order of Gen. RosecTans 10 close up oI
Reynolds who (Wood) in order TO do was com
PEELED TO withdraw and pass around Brannan
This left the gap between Thomas's left ant
Crttenden aud McCook, through which the
enemy poured and swept the right from th,
field, and caused Brannan 10 withdraw his di
vision to the position which afterward prove
the key TO the battlefeld.-S. p. ZEHRISG, q
Ii, 35th Ohio, Germantown, O.